Ardmore 12 Year Old 2009 Whisky Club of Luxembourg

In the same series, Berry Bros & Rudd had previously bottled a Linkwood 2009, but this time the boys and girls of the whisky club in Luxembourg wanted an Ardmore. It also comes from a sherry butt and is bottled at – drum roll – 64.3%. Makes you wonder at what strength this Ardmore went into the cask. The color does not necessarily suggest a sherry cask, because it is very pale.

Very herbal and even slightly dirty nose on wet soil and vase water with literally rotting plant remains. As far as I'm concerned, it's even a little too dirty. Butter and potato peels, as well as some salt and the rind of bacon. Fruit? Not in the least. Adding water brings another touch of rubber to the surface.

On the palate it is already much better and sweeter. Apples, pears and vanilla before the herbs of the wood and the smokiness of the peat speak for themselves. But it's burning! This (as far as I'm concerned) needs a lot of water. Diluted, it shows some mercy and becomes a little more accessible on more vanilla and licorice, but it remains a powerhouse.

The finish is spicy and sweet. With water, the herbalness is pronounced even more.

A difficult and far too strongly bottled Ardmore, as far as I'm concerned. I had to gasp repeatedly. Thank you for the sample, Dieter!

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